Method of and means for treating heart ailments



Jan. 9, 1945.

Lm'v PRESil/HE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TREATING HEART AILMENTS Hlql-l PRESSURE A. A. LUISADA Filed March 23, 1943 INVENTOR.

ALDO/IL U/SHDA ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1945 HEART AILMEN TS emo!) OF AND MEANS? FOR REATING V e j Aldo A; aisles; Begu Mass. f Application March 23, 1943, Serial No. 480,133

This invention relates to a method of and means for treating certain heart diseases orallments, particularly congestiveheart failure and shock. I i

In accordance withthepresentinvention, the patient is completely enclosed within a chamber and the atmospheric pressure within the chamber is rhythmically decreased and increasedin synchronism with the systole and diastole of the heart, the atmospheric pressure being decreased below normal atmospheric pressure during ventricular systole and increased above normal atmospheric pressure during ventricular diastole whereby thereis a decrease in the resistance to l the movement of the bloodiromtheheart to the differentparts of the body during ventricularsystole and whereby a positive iorceisprovided for movingthe blood toward the heartirom the various parts of thebody during ventricular diastole. The increase in atmospheric pressure withinthe chamber above normal atmospheric pressure is of the order'of millimeters of meronly and the decrease in atmospheric pressure within the chamber. below normal atmospheric pressure is also of the order of aboutf5 millimeters of mercury. More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, provision is made for decreasing the pressure under the control of the R wave or the electro-cardiograph of the patient in such manner that decrease of pressureoccurs during ventricular systole and increase of pressure occurs during ventricular diastole.

The present invention andjthe manner of prac ticing the same will best beunderstood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing?" Fig. 1 is a View illustrating the method of the present invention. and illustrating, more or less diagrammatically, apparatus for use in practicing the method;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an electro-cardiogram;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a clutch which may be used in the apparatus. 7

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is illustrated in Fig. 1a cham'ber l0, such as a small room, within which the patient is completely enclosed so that all parts of the patients body are subjected to variations in atmospheric pressure within the chamber. The pressure within chamber I0 is alternately decreased and increasedunder the control of the electro-cardiograph l2 which is operatively connected tothe patient within the chamber as illustrated diagrammatically in the drawing. More particularly, in the apparatus here shown, the interior of chamber I0 is placed in communication by means of a valve l4 alternately with a source of low pressure and with a sourceof high pressure,

respectively. Thus, as here shown, valve 14 is mounted for reciprocation in-a valve chest l6 which communicateswith'chamber in through a conduit l8 and with low pressure and high pressure sources through conduits 2D and 22, respec tively. Valve M has a single port 24 which registers alternately with the low pressure and high pressure inlet ports 26 and 28, respectively, of valve chest I 6. 1 l

Valve [4 is provided with a stem 30 which is engaged by a 'springfl which moves valve [4 to the position thereofin which port 24 registers with the high pressure inlet port 28. The lower end of valve stem 30 is engaged by a rotary cam 34 which during the rotation thereof moves valve [4 to a position in which port 24 thereof registers with the low pressure inlet port 26, at which time the high pressureinlet port 28is closed by said valve. Cam 34 is rotated-by a shaft 36 which is connectedto adrive shaft 38 through a clutch 40, shaft 38 being continuouslyrotated during the operationof the apparatus in any suitable way as by the electric motor M. Clutch comprises a driving clutch memberflwhich .is slidable longitudinallyoi shaft 38 and is constantly rotated thereby. The companion clutch member 44 is fixed to the driven shaft 3B in l osition for the engagementand disengagement thereof by V the driving clutch member 42. Driving clutch member 42 is engaged with and disengaged from driven clutch member 44 bya pivoted lever 45 opthe driving clutch member 42 is shortly there:

eratedby an electric relay. It will be understood that clutch 40 includes a spring 41, as in any conventional clutch, which normally holds driving clutch member 42 out of engagement with driven clutch member 44, and that when relay 48 is energized the armature arm of lever 46 l is attracted so that said lever is. actuated for moving driving clutch member" into engagement with driven clutch member 44. It will be understood that when relay 48 is de-energized,

after "disengaged bythe clutch spring from driven clutch member 44. It will be understood that shaft 38rotates at a high speed and that when clutch 40 is'engaged the speed of rotation of cam 34 is likewisehigh for operating valve l4 during the short. periods of heart systole and diastole.

Relay 48 is operated under the control of the electro-cardiograph l2 and as here shown is cononly by they of the electro-cardiograph, which wave is amplified by the amplifier 54, said wave being as usual of the general form illustrated in Fig. 3 and occurring before contraction of the heart ventricles. Accordingly the winding of relay 48 is energized amplified R wave of the electrocardiographi 1 As ithe R wave offthe electrocardiograph Slightly precedes the beginning of ventricularsystole, relay 48 is energized by said R wave at the proper time for effecting the rotation of cam 34 for moving valve [4 to the position hereof in which its port 24 registers Withthe ow pressure inlet port 26 of the valve chest, thus lacing the interior of chamber H1 in communica tion with the source of low pressure whereby to ed to be operatively connected to the patient in said chamber, a filter for passing only the R wave of said electro-cardiograph, a relay operatively connected to said filter, and means oper- "operable under the control of said electro-cardiograph for varying the air pressure in said chamher in rhythmic relation to said actions of the lower the pressure in said chamber during ventricular systole. Immediately following the lowering of pressure during ventricular systole, relay dB is de-energized under the control of the R wave, and by that time the cam projection 56 hasbeen movedout of engagement with the cam follower 58 of valve stem 30, sothat spring 32 moves valve M to the position thereof in which port24 registers with high pressure inlet port 28 whereby the interior of chamber In is placed in communication with the high pressure source,

ments comprising a chamber for completely enthus resulting in increase of pressure in said chamber/during 'ventricular diastole. This cycle is repeated at regular intervals in accordance with the occurrence of theR ,wave of the electrocardiogram.

It will be understood thatmeans other than that herein illustrated or ';described maybe utiliZed for controlling the atmospheric pressure within chamber ll) under the control of means responsive to the systolic and diastolicactions of the heart of the patient. Accordingly, I do not wish to -be limited to the apparatus herein specifically shown ordescrib'ed exceptto the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims. l

Having. thus 7 .claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1'. Means for use in the treatment of heart ailments comprising a chamber for completely enclosing. the patient, means responsive to the sysolicand diastolic actions. of the heart of the said filter, and means operable under the control patient, and "means operable under the control of said last mentioned means for varying the air pressure in said chamberin rhythmic relation to said actions of the heart.

described my invention, ,what I .2. Means for use in the treatment of heart ailments comprising a chamber for completely enclosing the patient, an electro-cardiograph adaptheart.

4. The method of treating heart ailments which 1 comprises enclosing the patient completely withsaid chamber under the control of said electrocardiograph during diastole of the patientsheart.

5. Means foruse in the treatment of heart ailclosing the patient, an electro-cardiograph adapted to be operatively connected to the patient in said chamber, and means operable under the control of said electro-c'ardiograph for connecting said chamber alternately to sources of low pressure and high pressure, respectively, during the,periods of systole and diastole, respectively,

of the patients'heart.

6. Means for treating a heartaihnent of a patientenclosed in a chambencomprising means responsive to the systolic and diastolicactions of the heart of the patient, and' means operable under the control of said last mentioned means for connecting said chamber alternately .to sources of low pressure and high pressure, respectively, during the periods of systole and diastole, respectively, of the patients heart.

{7. Means for treating av heart ailment of .a patient enclosed in a chamber, comprising an electro-cardiograph adapted to be operatively connected to the patient in said chamber, a filter for passing only the. R wave'of said electrocardiograph, a relay operatively connected to of said relay for connecting said, chamber al ternately to sources of low pressure and high pressure, respectively, during theperiodS .oi'systole and diastole, respectively, of the patients heart. W Y

ALDO AsLUISADA. 

